It really is unfortunate that GM shut down the Oldsmobile brand in the early 2000s. Oldsmobile was founded in 1897, making it one of the oldest car manufacturers in the world and over the following 100 years, they built some amazing cars. While they created a number of successes, one of my personal favorites was the 4-4-2. It was a direct competitor to the Pontiac GTO, which happened to also be based on GM’s A-body platform. They might be related, but the 4-4-2 was a very different animal. This 1968 is a second generation car with the 400 cui V8 and the close ratio 4-speed. You can find this red beast here on eBay in Anderson, California.
When Olds introduced the 4-4-2, it was an option package, rather than a full-blown model. The name was a reference to the 4-barrel, 4-speed, dual exhaust combination, but in 1965 the name’s meaning changed to 400 cui, 4-speed, and dual exhaust. In ’68, GM updated the A-body, so the 4-4-2 was redesigned and became its own model. The engine was also updated, now being based on a small bore version of the 455 block rather than the outgoing 389. Horsepower was rated at 350 in 4-speed cars like this one, while automatics were rated at 325.
This example looks to be in beautiful condition inside and out. The seller doesn’t offer up a ton of information, but they state that it has new carpet, new headliner and has had one repaint in its original color. The interior is in nice shape, but boy is it red. Does anyone know if cloth upholstery was available in ’68?
The seller states that this is a two owner car and has seen just 70k miles since new. It really does look to be in nice shape, but it would be nice to have some documentation to back up the mileage. If the seller can provide you with the previous owner’s information, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find the car’s complete history and the necessary documents to verify the mileage. Hagerty puts a #1 at $52k and a #3 at $24k. If it’s as nice in person as it looks in photos, it might just be a #2 or higher condition car, making the current high bid of $25k realistic. It would be nice to know more of the car’s history, but as long as it’s in good shape and rust free it will be a blast to have!
Olds rocked or rocketed
They had some good muscle cars with the hurst olds etc!
This one looks great!
I have always liked the 442, but you needed to be a car guy to figure out what those numbers stood for without help. I was at the premier of the first 442 at the Detroit show IIRC, and GM had a truly lovely young lady in a swanky gown presenting the car, but she couldn’t remember what those numbers stood for. Four exhausts? Two doors?
Fortunately the 442’s body looked terrific, and there was that big V8 under the hood, so there was no harm done. The target audience knew what she was trying to say.
As far as this car goes, I always thought the black over red color treatment was the best. The wheels look great too.
Unfortunately The General was competing with itself with the Olds and Pontiac and they had to go for the company to be able to prosper. I guess I’m glad they cancelled those brands, for that reason at least. But it wasn’t easy for the real fans. At least GM is still with us and putting out some excellent vehicles.
olds died because the tried to compete with high end import cars like lexus etc> so they let it die and kept buick which is nothing but a old mans car! but gm have nothing built after 1970 I would give the time of day to so don’t care what they build!as I will never buy it!
I don’t think that any cutlasses with bucket seats had cloth seats, at least not in the 68-72 models.
The mouse fur on the seats looks all wrong….. Like someone took a velvet mural of Elvis apart and used it on the seats. Blasphemy
Exactly. Get Original Parts Group on the line and set it straight. As often as you’d be pressed back into that seat, you’d need the real deal. A fast shot through the gears would scare the fur right off that mouse.
The ’69 was a prettier car, not a wasted line anywhere, but that is a NICE ’68.
Looking at the rest of the pics, obvious that someone had it reupholstered a long time ago, aping the original patterns in Velour. Nice job, but its Velour… Please God make it go away. New Vinyl for seats and door panels will probably run $12-2000, but if the car was as nice as it seems I’d do one of the better aftermarket companies… leather?
Sweet looking olds!
The cloth interior does seem odd, but it does appear to be the original pattern. I have only seen one OE cloth bucket seat interior, that was in a 68 Malibu with buckets and a console. If Chevy did it can we assume that Olds did as well?
About 20 years ago I pulled a set of cloth bucket seats out of a 70-72 Monte Carlo.
Steve R
Since WHEN did a OLDS have a 389 ??
Never ever
The 442 was a 400 cu in 4 barrel and dual exhaust. I had a brand new one with factory 3 speed on the floor.
Something tells me that the upholstery was redone in the 1970s…
Nice car, especially being a four-speed.
In 1965 Olds went to the 400 and offered it with either a 3 speed, four speed or Jetaway Automatic. The 442 also changed to 400/4 barrel/dual exhaust. I have never seen a cloth interior in any 442 from 1968. Photo of my 1968 from about 1980 attached – I also owned a 1967 before it and a 70W30 after it.
I assume you mean a Harley after the 442 (70W30) ?! 😊
Had the Harley around 1980 and forward. The W30 was purchased around 2002.
Assume wrong….what he meant was a 1970 W30 with Ram Air option.
I owned a new 1968 442 with the same option. Only difference between models, my 68 had a double snorkel air filter with connected air tubes running under the front bumper. Believe the 70 was on the hood.
GSChevy, oddly enough my first two cars in 1979 were 67 442s followed by a 68 442 then followed by a 1970 Rally Red W-30. Needless to say we were an Oldsmobile family too! Such great cars, so much better than the competition at the time. I must admit that I liked the short stroke 400 in the 67s much better than the long stroke 400 in the 68. The 67s also had the switch-pitch torque converters that worked great with the high revving 400. What memories!
And the Harley…………………………………
Just as I suspected ! Nice cars. Was a Mopar guy in my youth, a bunch of Road Runners, they seemed like they were everywhere !
Fifty years down the road your kids ( arguendo) will really appreciate that pix even if it’s upside down :)
Yup – those girls are now 40 and 38 and they do love the picture – as do my grand daughters and their friends. :-)
My father sold Chevrolets and Oldsmobiles as I was growing up, he traded his triple black 66 Malibu for a 68 triple black Cutlass. …..I’m thinking the seats were fabric? ? All do remember for sure us that I was mad he didn’t order a 442. All he said was ” not while you’re only 18! you don’t trust me dad?? ;-)
Fuzzy fabric was not offered . Also, note the door cards.
My 70. Original 455, air, dual gate, power steering and brakes, induction hood, buckets and console and wing.
There is a Zillion of these around
Priced 7 grand to high
Looks pretty clean but not original seats or material…I owned a new one, many used ones, and have a 4 spd post car currently
I thought 400 4bbl dual exh? Read that in hot rod mag yrs ago so who knows for sure ? I had a 69 442 with a 400 4bbl 4 speed and of course dual exh nice car till i wrecked it 😂
Early 442 was an option on two different rooflines.
DR. OLDS, reember the ad, pulled good #’ S from 400 then the last gasping 455.
When each division had individuality the customer benefited.
BUICK as a car line is not dead they sell millions in China, and yes it is majority U
S Gen Mtrs Corp and China and Investor owned.
WHEN IN US GM CRYING FOR BAILOUT THEY KEPT QUIET ABOUT HOW BILLIONS IN PROFITS FROM BUICK IN CHINA FELL INTO US UPPER management pockets.
Truth is US had only shot autos left, Pontiac and OlDs gone and Impaled called and were crap, so nothing of interest or any quality built but Buick to. Offer.
The 389 was a Pontiac engine. The closest Olds had to that size was the 394.
This Olds 442 looks sweet. Untouched data plate rivets is a positive. As others pointed out, the seats are not original material. The shifter is not original as the factory shifter is flat and has “442” engraved on the sides. Looks like it may currently have a Hurst Competition Plus. Already at 26K!
Really like the 442 Olds, and this one is super nice no doubt. I’ve always liked the swoopy fenders on these Olds, not for everybody and maybe that’s one reason they lagged behind the GTO in sales.
I have a hunch this one here will go for a lot of cash, and those ugly seats will see limited use.
This type of upholstery wasn’t available. Looks VERY comfortable, but leather would have been nicer.
oldsmobile only built 442 cars, or w cars in lansing. only other plant to do so. Canada. but they never built w cars either. and no fur seats gm A cars until 73.
442’s were built at the other assembly plants as well, it was the W’s that were Lansing only, excluding the 1970 Cutlass Supreme SX with the W32 engine option, which were built at the other plants as well.
Cloth may have been available in 1968, but not this velour shown here. I believe their would also have an Olsmobile logo on each seatback. Notice the door panels also appear to have been covered in the same velour. It looks nice. Even the pattern looks well done as well. It just doesn’t match the era of the car, therefore kind of a glaring conflict between 60s and 80s.
No cloth on buckets, vinyl only, no Olds logo on seats either.
Seems like I remember Cutlass cloth interior 76 along with square headlights and I believe T-tops
I sold them starting in 1975 and in the Cutlass S and Supreme you could get cloth or vinyl seats. The Cutlass Supreme Broughams in 76 had velour standard. I never remember selling one in the Brougham model with vinyl or leather. The seat material in this 442 is not correct I do know that. Starting in 76 they all had square headlights and T Tops were available in all models.